Characterization of Molecular Communication Channel for Nanoscale Networks

Recently molecular communication is being considered as a new communication physical layer option for nanonetworks. Nanonetworks are based on nanoscale artificial or bio-inspired nanomachines. Traditional communication technologies cannot work on the nanoscale because of the size and power consumption of transceivers and other components. On the other hand, a detailed knowledge of the molecular communication channel is necessary for successful communication. Some recent studies analyzed propagation impairment and its effects on molecular propagation. However, a proper characterization of the molecular propagation channel in nanonetworks is missing in the open literature. This goes without saying that a molecular propagation channel has to be characterized first before any performance evaluation can be made. Due to the nanoscale dimension of the nanomachines involved in molecular communication a measurement based approach using in vitro experiments is extremely difficult. In addition, a proper tuning of the experimental parameters is mandatory. This is why the authors were motivated to characterize the ‘channel quantum response (CQR)’ or equivalently the ‘throughput response’ of bio-inspired nanonetworks with an alternative approach. This paper considers the molecular channel as particle propagation. The CQR i.e. the throughput response and its characteristics have been found in order to better-understand the molecular channel behavior of nanonetworks.